Apparatus for dispensing a liquefied gas



Nov. 28, 1944. o. A. HANSEN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A LIQUEFIED GAS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1940 i; 'IIa/111111 Il dnam Ya/vmuml ATTO R N EYS Nov. 28, 1944.

, o. A. HANSEN AT PARATUS FOR DISPENSING A LI-QUEFIED GAS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1940 INVENToR x .BY Mwwz/ Mig/rw ifafmawm ATToRN s Patented Nov. 28, 1944` APPARATUS Fon DIsPENslNG A LIQUEFIED GAs Odd A. Hansen, Kenmore, N. Y., assigner to The Linde Air Products Company, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of Ohio Application December 7, `1940, Serial No. 369,023

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing a liquefied gas having a boiling point temperature materially below 273 K., and more particularly to a transportable apparatus or system adapted for dispensing gas material, such as oxygen in gas or liquid phase, to a consuming 4 installation.

` :ative association with the vaporizing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transportable dispensing system for a liquefied lgas with an improved arrangement of component devices which includes mechanically driven pumping apparatus, whereby the liquefied gas may be withdrawn and delivered quickly, either to a storage container or to gas phase receiving apparatus, at a relatively high pressure.

Another object is to provide a transportable dispensing system for liquid oxygen and the like, having mechanically driven liquid pumping apparatus with a power take-off associated with the heat motor, which may be that of the vehicle which'transports the system, or an independent one. whereby a self-contained system is provided, adapted for delivering a desired amount of the gas material in a. relatively short period of time.

Still another object is to provide a transportable liquid oxygen dispensing system of the character indicated with an improved arrangement of vaporizing apparatus which is adapted to receive the discharge from pumping apparatus, driven from the heat motor, in which the vaporizer is arranged to be heated by rejected heat from' such motor in a manner which is elcient and `achieves a heat balance vaporizing all of the liquid pumped regardless of the speed of the pumping apparatus.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and'arrangement of parts. which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth,

and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, mainly in Iside elevation, of a transportable liquid oxygen dispensing, system having the customary housings removed and showing an arrangement of component devices in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, showing details of one of the component devices of the system; and

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to that of Fig. l, but shows a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, I0 denotes a, wheeled chassis of a motor vehicle powered by an internal combustion motor in the conventional manner. The chassis is arranged to support a transport container comprising an inner vessel II adapted for holding liquid oxygen and a housing or outer casing I2 which is spaced from the vessel II in order to provide an insulating space I3v that is filled with suitable insulating material, such as powdered magnesium carbonate. The transport container is also indicated as provided with a pressure building vaporizing coil I4, as taught in Heylandt patent, Reissue No. 18,876. p

Associated with the transport container is a pumping apparatus and a liquid oxygen vaporizerfas taught in Heylandt patent, Reissue No. 19,251. The pumping apparatus here employed comprises rstand second-stage pumps, as taught in the patent to Thompson, No. 1,930,731. The first-stage pump is shown at I5, and preferably comprisesv a rotary type pump of the character disclosed in the copending application, Sens1 No. 345,308, med Ju1y 13, 1940, m the name of O. A. Hansen. The first-stage pump I5 is disposed below the transp-ort container II a. distance which provides a desired hydrostatic head of pressure that is suflcient to avoid flashing the liquid into vapor; such arrangement lbeing taught in the copending application, Serial No. 340,848, led June 15, 1940, in the name of O. A. Hansen. Accordingly, the pump I5 is indicated as secured in a frame I6 slung below the chassis I0 but clearing the ground by a distance sufficient to avoid ordinary obstructions. The container II l has a liquid withdrawal connection Il leading from a point relativelyclose to the bottom' of the pumps I and 20 is here arranged to be driven to the inlet channel of pump I5. 'I'his connection is controlled bya valve I8, preferably arranged to be manipulated from a convenient point at the rear of the truck or vehicle which transports the system.

An outlet connection I9 is arranged to lead from pump I5 to the inlet of the second-stage pumping device, shown generally at 20. This device is indicated as comprising vertically disposed reciprocating pumps 2| and 2 I which have lo their cold ends lowermost, and are provided respectively with plungers 22 and 22' that protrude from their upper ends and are arranged to be actuated by a Watt linkage 23, as taught in the copending application, Serial No. 340,683, led June 15, 1940, in the name of P. M. Riede. The connection I9 is accordingly branched, in order to lead in parallel to the inlets of pumps 2| 2|', which are also arranged with outlets dis" charging into a common outlet connection 24 20 that leads into a portion 24' supported by the chassis and extending forwardly to the front end of the truck or vehicle, where a vaporizer, shown generally at 25, is located. Such connections may have check valves, as shown at I9' i and 24", respectively.

The vaporizer here employed comprises a. drum-like casing 26 suspended with its ams horizontal below the radiator of the internal combustion motor which propels the vehicle. Details are shown in Fig. 2, where it is seen that the drum heads are perforated to pass the ends of a coil 21 to which the connection 24 is attached in order that the liquid to be vaporized may be supplied thereto. An outlet connection 28 leads from the other end of the coil and is preferably disposed parallel to the connection 24 on the chassis; such connection preferably has a check valve 28' and leads to the rear of the vehicle and is terminated with a coupling 29. A flexible servicing connection may be attached at will to the coupling 23 for delivering oxygen to a rack of high pressure cylinders or other oxygen receivers. The vaporizer at is also provided with an internal heating coil 30 which has an inlet connection 3| leading from the exhaust manifold ci the internal combustion motor, and an outlet connection 32 at the other end arranged to discharge directly to the atmosphere. Such outlet is preferably provided separately from the exhaust muiiler, the latter being closed whenthe outlet 32 is in use.

The vaporizing coil 21, here provided, is adapted to be heated by the water circulating through the internal combustion motor and its 5; radiator. Accordingly, the connectionswhich normally lead from the casing of the motor to the radiators are opened and connections to the vaporizer inserted. This is shown as accomplished by the provision of a connection 33 leading from the casing of the internal combustion motor and discharging into the space within the drum 26, while a similar connection 34 is led from the space within the drum 25 to the inlet of the radiator. Thus. the space within the casing of the vaporizer about ooil 21 is always filled with a heating medium which is further heated by the coil 3B when exhaust gases are passed through it.

The .pumping apparatus comprising the by means of one or more power take-offs associated with the main drive or transmission of the vehicle. To this end, a power take-ofi housing 35 is depicted as` disposed in driving association with the transmission in a manner permitting its receiving Ipower when the vehicle is not being propelled. From -housing 35 there extends a transmitting shaft 36 that is coupled 5 through a universal 31 to the power receiving f end of the pump I5. etails of the power. takeofi device are omitted from the drawings in the interests of clearness of illustration, since any such device on the marketmay be employed.

In the arrangement depicted, driving power is also had from a take-off 40 disposed to receive power from the motor while the regular transmission is neutra1, and has a pulley 4| turning about ,a transverse axis which is preferably horizontally disposed with reference to the chassis of the vehicle. The pulley 4| is. ad-

ivantageously coupled by means of a belt or chain 42 in a speed reducing manner to drive a disk or pulley 43V which has a crank for actuating a connecting rodv Il that drives the Watt linkage at 23'. By this arrangement, the ipumps I5 and 20 may have their driving speed so chosen relatively that the pump at 20 is always adapted` to receive and deliver the entire quantity of liquid discharged from the pump I5. Since the pumps are thus simultaneously propelled from the same heat motor, it is seen that the liquid may be withdrawn from the container II and passed through the vaporizer at various speeds by merely varying the speed of the internal combustion motor of the vehicle;

By this arrangement it is seen that there is always a heat balance in the vaporizer 25 bepass or cross connection 50, controlled by a valve 5I, is inserted at a convenient point between the conduit 24 and that at 28. A cut-oli valve, as shown vat 53, may also be introduced in the conduit 24', for example,'at a point somewhat beyond those at which connections and 30 are attached. The valve 53 'is normally open, while that in connection 50, i. e., a valve 5I, is

normally closed. In such an arrangement, it is connection 23 for delivery at-23 to the consum- 'ing installation.v If valve 5I be opened and the valve 53 be closed, then it is seen that the vaporizer 25 is cut out and the liquid delivered by the pump at 20 passes through the cross conly, a valved connection 55 is led from the dlsi charge of the pump I5 to the gas vspace in the container II. Such connection may be conveniently led from a poi-nt in the discharge conduit I9 which leads from the outlet of pump I5, as pointed out above. In a similar manner, a valve connection is led from the outlet ofthe pumps at 20 to the gas space of the container II. Ac-

f cordingly, a `valved connection D is shown as example, a safety bursting diaphragm, as indi- 1 cated at 6I, communicating with the conduit 28 in order to relieve any sudden risein gas pressure in -the servicing connections. A receptacle for the attachment of indicators, such as thermometers, etc., may be provided, `as shown at 52. Ar connection 53"having a portion 53' depending into the container is provided and ar ranged for filling the container; such connection being also adapted for liquid withdrawal purposes, if desired. Other safety devices may be provided also, for example, a safety valve, as shown at Bd, arranged to vent the container II. By such arrangement, the container is adapted to be operated in a sealed condition, desired operating pressures being had by setting into operation the pressure building coll at M. Still 'other .auxiliary devices may be employed at con- `rectly to a liquid receiver at low pressure, the

connection i9 has -a branch 29' which is similar to that at 29 and controlled by a normally closed valve S9; the normal connection to pump being controlled by a normally open valve 68. By this arrangement, it is seen that both the pump and the vaporizer may be cut out by the closlng of valve 68 and opening valve 55. The low pressure receiver is, of course,` coupled at 29 in the same manner that receivers at high pressure are coupled at 29.

It will be understood also that while an ln- `ternal combustion motor has been described above, it is not essential to the invention that the motor which supplies the heat for Vaporization be of this variety since any heat motor may be used which is in association with the ccntainer supplying the liquefied gas. For example, a hot-air or steam engine may be employed and the exhaust therefrom be passed through the heating coil of the vaporizer, such as that shown at 3U '1n the vaporizer 25. In'such arrangement, it is seen that the rejected heat is the source of heat for operating the vaporizr. The heat supplied would be proportional to work done in the' connections 33 and 34 heats the coil 2`I through which the liquid oxygen is passing. The

pumping the liquefied gas, i. e., the faster liqueed gas is pumped the faster will heat be supplied for vaporizing and the heat balance provided in accordance with the'invention is operasuch as a flexible hose, which discharges into a receiver at the installation. If such receiver be a gas phase receiver, for example, a gasometer 'orfa rack of cylinders to be lled, the vaporizer at 25 is put in service. Accordingly, valve 53 is set in open position while that at 5| is in closed" position. The valve at I8 may then be opened and the pumps I5 and 20 coupled through their power vtake-olis to the motor of the vehicle when it is desired to service an installation. The pumps when startedy running are then primed. 'I'his is accomplished by rst opening valve 52 in connection 55 so as to discharge the gasat iirst ashed off into the container II. The priming is completed for pump I5 as soon as the pump is found to be develop ing pressure and while liquid isbeing discharged through connection 55. Then the valve 52 in connection 55 is closed and. that at 54 in connection opened. When the second pump develops pressure, the valve 54 is closed and the valve 53 opened so that the. discharge from the pumps is thereupon forced through the connection 24 into the coil 21 of the vaporizer 25. Valve B8 is, of course, normally open.

In the vaporizer the water circulated through hot gases `from the internal combustion motor also pass through the coil 30. This supplies additional heat so that the water in the vaporizer is not unduly cooled and danger of freezing avoided. The vaporized oxygenV is discharged through the connection 28 through the coupling 29 into the receiving apparatus. The receiving apparatus may be lled at substantially any desired rate by operating the pump driving motor at the proper speed.v Also, it is seen that substantially any desired high pressure may be attained, Vsince reciprocating pumpsl'of the character here indicated are adapted to pump against heads of the order of 2000 lbs. per square inch gauge.

In the event the consuming installation to be serviced has a vaporizer or a liquid phase receiver requiring a relatively large charge of liquid oxygen, such as a storage tank, the servicing is carried out in substantially the same manner as that above described, except that the vaporizer 25 is cutout. To effect this, the valve at 53 is closed and that at 5I opened. When the pumps are primed, the discharge from the pump 20 is seen to -pass first through the connection 24, then through the connection 50 into connection 28, and thence through the coupling 29 to the liquid phase receiving apparatus. In order to assist in keeping the pump I5 primed, especially when pumping liquid with a low static head on the inlet side, it is advantageous to set the coil I4 into operation since the container is closed. 'I'he coil I4 then builds a non-equilibrium pressure on the liquid in. container II. This, of course, adds to the low static head available from the height of the liquid alone with consequent increase i'n the eiclency of the first-stage pump. From the above it is seen that the two pumps in series are used whenever it is desired to pump supply of the heat to eilect vaporization in an amount proportional to the rate at which liquid is passing through the vaporizer, since at any speed of the motor the rate at which heat is dissipated is proportional to the rate at which the pumps are operated. Thus,- a heat balance is achieved in an economical manner.

In the event that the supply of heat from the internal combustion type of motor is insuiiicient properly to vaporize the liquid oxygen, it may be necescsary to retard the spark, so that more of the motor fuel is consumed than in ordinary operation, by the combustion of which greater heat is furnished. Adjustment of the spark which may be manual or automatic thus affords a control of the amount of heat supplied to the vaporizer.

Another control that may or may not be used is that aiorded by a so-called winter-front that is generally provided on the radiator as standard equipment for trucks of the character here generally employed. By regulating the opening on the winter-front, either manually or automatically, the `amount of heat supplied to the vaporizer by the engine cooling medium can be varied. Thus, in the event of an excess supply of heat, for example, when no liquid is passed through the coil 21, the heat can be dissipated to the atmosphere by simply opening the winter-front.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the internal combustion motor that drives the pumps is not that which propels the vehicle, the arrangement here employed being on a trailer which is attached to the chassis of automotive portions of the coupled vehicles. The trailer ||0 is arranged toy support a transport container which is generally similar to that shown in Fig. l and has a liquid phase withdrawal connection ||3 ,with controlling valve ||3 and is preferably provided with a pressure building vaporizing coil ||4. In the connection H8 there are disposed the liquid pumps in series and denoted |I5 and respectively. Such pumps are ofthe same character as those shown at I5 and 20 in Fig. 1, the pump ||5 being supported from the vehicle ||0 by a. frame II6 at a point somewhat below` the bottom of the container, while the second is mounted on a rear portion of the vehicle. A valve I8 controls the connection leading to pump w1 I5. A discharge connection H9 leads from the outlet of pump ||5 and has a check valve ||1 therein, such connection leading to the inlet of the second pump |20. Such pump also comprises a pair of vertically arranged cylinders having reciprocating plungers thereinthat are actuated by a Watt linkage |23. These pump cylinders have a. common discharge connection |24 that is connected to their outlets and leads to a vaporizer |25 on the vehicle 0. The vaporizer here employed is preferably similar to that' shown in Fig. 2 and has a vaporizing coil connected to receive the discharge from connection |24. From the other end of the vaporizing coil leads a discharge conduit |28 which is terminated with a coupling |29 by means of which a flexible hose, or other conduit conveyance, is attached for making a service delivery. Connections |33 and |24 are arranged to permit circulation of the engine cooling medium through the vaporizer, the engine and radiator being here denoted respectively and I3 The engine |30 on the trailer hasapower transmission that is independent of that which propels the vehicle. Such transmission'may have a housing |35 as sociated ,therewith from which extends a sprocket or pulley |36 that is appropriately coupled through chain 'or belt to drive yPriming connections with controlling valves are shown at and |60; the connections leading from the pumps also having check valves, as shown at IIS and |28. This modication is also provided with suitable accessories aswpressure gauges, safety valves, certain of Winch are shown at IBI, |62, etc.

In this modication of the invention, the mode of operation is substantially the same as that for the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The trucktrailer arrangement, however, permits the truck portion to be detached while a service delivery is being made at a consuming installation, the' motor for running the pumps and furnishing the heat for vaporization being on the trailer |I0, so that delivery is made Without the presence o! the truck portion.

It will also be seen that while the arrangements here shown are those which are adapted for servicing consuming plants with oxygen, the invention is in no way conned thereto, since any gas material, such as liquid propane, which has a boiling temperature at atmospheric pressure .be-

low 273 K., may be handled by apparatus provided in, accordance with the invention.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and diiferent embodiments of the invention could be made Without. departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theA `above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpret' as illustrative and not in a Hunting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l 1. In a system for dispensing a liquefied gas, the combination with an insulated container for the liquefied gas, of pumping apparatus connected to withdraw liquid from said container, said apparatus comprising two volatile liquid type pumps in series, at least the rst of which is positioned relatively low with respect to said container whereby the supply is under a gravity head of pressure,`the second pump in the series being arranged to discharge against a relatively high head of pressure, a vaporizer having an invinternal combustion motor the combination with a container for the liquefied gas disposed on said vehicle, of pumping apparatus connected to withdraw liquid from said container, a vaporizer for vaporizing withdrawn liquid and having an inlet connection connected to receive liquid discharged irom said pumping apparatus, a discharge connection leading from said vaporizer for dispensing the gas produced, driving means for coupling said pumping apparatus to said motor, a by-pass connection between said vaporizer' inlet and said discharge connection for by-passing coldl liquid to said vaporizer discharge connection, and connections associated with said vaporizer for conveying the heat of the cooling me` dium -of said motor to said vaporizer whereby vaporization of the liquid supplied thereto is effected.

3. In a system for dispensing a liqueed gas, the combination with a, container for the liquefied gas, of pumping apparatus connected to withdraw such liquid from the container, a vaporizer for vaporizing withdrawn liquid and having an inlet connection arranged to receive liquid discharged from said pumping apparatus, a discharge connection` leading from said vaporizer for dispensing the vaporized gas produced, driving means for said pumping apparatus. means for supplying heat to said vaporizer to vaporize and superheat the gas material passed.

therethrough, a by-pass connection between said vaporizer inlet and said discharge connection for transportably mounted on a vehicle having an internal combustion motor, the combination with an insulated container for the liqueed gas disposed on said`` vehicle, of pumping apparatus connected to withdraw liquid from said` container, aV vaporizer for vaporizing withdrawn liquid and having an inlet connection arranged to receive liquid discharged from said pumping, apparatus, a discharge connection leading from said vaporizer for dispensing thevaporized igas produced, coupling means foroperating said pumping apparatus from said motor, a by-pass con-l l ing cooling medium of said motor.

5. In a system for dispensing a liquefied gas, the combination of a container for the liquefied gas, avaporizer for vaporizing liqueied gas.. pumping apparatus connected both to said container and to said vaporizer and operable to withdraw liquefied gas from said container and to discharge liquefied gas into. said vaporizer. means for supplying heat to .said vaporizer to vaporize liquefied gas passing thereto, a discharge connection leading from said vaporizer for dispensing vaporized gas, a liqueed gas bypass connection leading to said discharge connection from the connection between said pumping apparatus and said vaporizer, and means for controlling said lay-pass and operable to deliver variable quantities of liqueed gas directly from said pumping apparatus Ainto the vaporized gas in said discharge connection to regulate 'the temperature of such vaporized gas.

ODD A.' HANSEN. 

